WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAINTENANCE & CORRECTIVE TRIM?

The difference between a “maintenance” and a “corrective” trim is how the imbalances are addressed. 

For a maintenance trim, it is preferable if the foot is already at a developed and balanced stage. Or if the owner is just maintaining the feet in between farrier’s / HCP’s appointments. The maintenance trim would just address excess outer wall growth. 

A corrective trim aims at helping the feet grow out of their imbalances. Provided that after a while of corrective and regular trims, the feet (if no injuries occur-ed) should maintain a healthy growth and mainly only need regular (at least monthly depending on climate, terrain, husbandry) maintenance trims.

Here is a video of a Draft Horse’s corrective trim. 

BACKGROUND ON THIS DRAFT HORSE

For this draft horse, imbalances are quite minimal, compared to what they used to be.

  • September 2017
  • October 2018
Right front evolution
This draft horse is slightly pigeon toed, like many drafts.
With a Varus / Bow legged tendency

The X-ray shots in the video were taken in October 2018, 1.5y before this video was shot.
This horse was barefoot for several years before, traditionally flat trimmed. The hoof care practitioner used to clean out the sole every time, thinning it constantly. 

His condition worsened so much, he could no longer walk.

He was started with physiological trim 1 year prior to the X-rays (September 2017). The nutrition is however still far from optimal, but his guardian is doing her best for him.

It took nearly a year to get him comfortable on all terrains without shoes. We’re even happy he can be ridden without boots, given what the X-rays showed.

X-RAYS EVALUATION

Sign of founder (12° rotation)

This is a lateral view from this draft’s right front. Highlighted here are the signs of laminitis:

• Blue lines: showing the angle difference between P3 & the wall. Those lines should be parallel.

• Yellow lines: showing the distal descent, the coffin bone is sinking into the foot. There should only be one line, parallel to the ground linking the hairline (pink dot) & the top of the coffin bone (green dot).

• Red line: showing the thinning of the sole. As the bone drops into the foot, it puts pressure on the sole.

Here are other external signs of laminitis:
• Collateral Grooves
• Coronary Band
• Lamellar Wedge

Bone Spurs (red) / ossification & bone remodelling (blue)
  • Top view
  • Lateral view
Here is what colateral cartilages calcification looks like. The top view is from the front left foot, the lateral view is still the front right foot.
Lateral palmar process fractured on his left front

CONCLUSION

His general behaviour was quite dangerous in hand, ridden or trimmed before his feet got better. It used to be thought as a behavioural issue only.

However, as he started feeling better in his feet, this horse completely transformed! He became a happy go lucky draft horse, and willingly part taking in everything.

Of course, the trim isn’t the only element playing in his rehab. This horse’s guardian made incredible efforts to care for her horse as best as she could.

Diet has changed, although it is not perfect yet.
She treats the frogs and white line very regularly, she listens to her horse and work him without pushing his limits.
This horse gets very regular stimulation on various terrains.

We’re so pleased that thanks to all this hard work, he now shows concavity instead of the forever convexity he used to have!